The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-31

songs became obsolete as the realities of war
burst upon Such songs were too sad and
We're soon discarded by the boys in the army
Anecdote often engrossed the attention OF
those at the real campfire Many of those
would bear repeating. but time forbids that
should enter upon this branch. may be ex-
cused for telling one howev~r. which will Illus
trate pretty well the personal experience Of
many a soldier as he recollects the actual camp
fires One of the soldiers displays a picture Of
q beautiful young lady, remarkine that he found
it in the hand of a dead johnny" Blame
me-, said he. IF it did not make sick when
took it. He was mighty nice looking young
chap, and he had this picture right before his
face, and was smiling just as natural as il he
was alive well" spoke up another comrcde,
II would have let that poor chap been buried
with his picture would not have taken it."
Another spoke up:- Stealing that picture is
the meanest trick Jack did that day" When
the fellow who had taken the picture retorted
Don't talk to me; you took some tobacco OUT of
his pocket and chawed it. and blame me, as well
as love tobacco, if 1 would have taken it from
dead Johnny If | had never gotten another
chaw.'
would like to eradicate. if could. the Nom.
ory Of the prison pen from the life of the sol
der. But there it is, an ugly. hateful blotch up-
the civilization of those who contended
against u.s. It was nearer certain death than
the battle. 1t was loathsome. filthy, full OF con-
tagion and disease, and within the prison were
confined thousands of Union soldiers without
space enough upon which to rest-wthout
shelter, without Clothes without sufficient food,
without medicine, without blankets-in short,
abandoned to mis- lot in a closely crowded prison
pen, without the means of taking care of him.
self, only to linger, and starye. and die. In this
place the soldiers prIvations and hardships were
more severe than IN any other place in the army.
He was utterly neglected. Often wounded and
thrown into prison to die while his flesh in
tested with before death relieved him.
Scurvy, grangrene and diarrhea were his mortal
enemies. Brutal commanders and bloothirsty
guards were placed him, who, the
slightest provocation, shot him down like dog.
But amidst ali these hardships and privations.
be it said to the memory of the prisoners. that
rnfa @,c fhcr1C rx1 rNy,13 An 1n1
duced or beguied into abandoning his country
and joining the confederacy in any position Of
fered. He rather chose death by the lingering
torments inflicted upon him than dishonor by
abandoning his government and forswearng his
country.
In the references that have made to camp
not forgotten that this is a day for memory and
tearssn Our comrades, who were less fortunate
than we, many of them lis in unknown graves.
where kinsman's hand can strew flowers over
their last resting place. AS the remnants of the
"old guard stand here to-day. faithful to the
promises made to their dead comrades that they
would never forget them and would hold
their sacrifices dear to memory, we feel with IN
tense emotions the duties of the hour. There
are no links of friendship stronger than those
riveted together in the camp. on the march, in
the prison pens and the battlefield. There
are memories dearer than those of fallen
comrades who went down amidst tho smoke and
battle, heroically defending the countrvs flag
and the country's honor. There are no tenderer
sentences which linger in the memory OF
men than those last few whispered words
dearly. but whose faces he would never
again There promises more sacred
nor any duty more solemn than the carrying
out of the pledges then made. Among these
were that would cherish their names. pro-
vide for their families, to it that none OF
them suffered from poverty and want. and that
we would educate their children as the wards OF
the Nation provide them homes. and that none
should be compelled to spend their days of help
lessness in the poorh houses Of our country. We
ing to protect should give them liberal PENSIONS
and provide SO far it might and could, that
their hard service should not be the cause Of in
dlgence and poverty in their old age
The commemora.on of this DAYS service ia
but the keeping of one of the promises then
made. Let us in our minds recount and recall
those that have passed away before rs. Let
cherish in hearts the great sacrifices which
they made. Let promise in the future &c be
truer to the memory of those who suffered aud
fell, and to those who were denrer to them than
life.
The names of many true and noble soldiers are
secure in history. and their fame is as imperish-
able the language speak General Grant,
General Mcpherson, General Mead. General
Thomas. General Logan. General Han
cock. Admiral Farragut and many
of less prominence but equally as
brave and gallant, have passed over the dark
stream of death into the land where bivouaca
are Interchangeable. None will forget their glory.
their services their merits. their fame. In song
and in story their name will be woven into let
ters and sentences which will make them immor.
tai Poets and philosophers. historians and
publcists will alike vie with each other in writ
ing of their deeds and their battles; of their
habits and qualities; of their personal acquaint.
ances and recolections Of these men. Shafts OF
marble and granite will mark the spots where
they lie. Coming generations will tell the story
of their lives. and will pause to gaze upon thu
shafts erected to their memories
But who shall answer for the private soldier
who went down in the fierce charge. bravely
holding the colors of the regiment, and mark
the lowly spot of his gallant comradesl Who
hal nronf lnyxayr re NV ho 60 nf an.
known gravel Who shall solace the weeping
mother whose first born lies in the valley where
he fells Whose words shall speak comfort to
the widow whose husband hurried from her sics
to the battle line, and whose infant has grown
in manhood or womanhood without the re-
membrance of the features of their fathers face.
but whose deeds of herosm and valor were equal
20 the men whom the Nation and the world will
not forget2 1t is to that lowly grave. that dead
patriot. that mothers darling, that fathers
pride and hope, that / would erect monuments
to-day. whose untimelv fate / would commits
crate, for he indeed. was the true hero! With
out him the names of the generals who led the
hosts would have sunk into the like forgotten
grave with that of the private soldier.
The armies which were led performed the
real service, which, without stint, is too often
lavished upon the commander. General Grant
and General Sherman did accomplish great
achievements. from which / would not subtract
an ota. But it were not possible that those
achievements were accomplished except for the
heroism and the death of the private soldier
whose name is forgotten save by the kindred
who linger and mourn his untimeiy fate.
If | could | would call to-day from the last
resting places the phantom dead to here pass in
review. Each one of you who lost kinsmau
would watch as it passed for the familiar face
which faithfully described in the following
staDza by Bret Harte:
And saw a phantom army
With never a sound of fife drum
But keeping time to throbbing hum
OF wailing and lamentations
The martyred heroes of Malvern Hill
OF Gettysburg and Charlottesville.
The whose wasted figures fill
The patriot graves of the Nation.
So all night long swept the strange ay
So all night long, till the morning graz,
! watched for who had passed away
With a and wonder
Till a blue cap waved in the lengthenng line,
And knew that who kin of mine
Had come
Mrs Flora Wulschner, president of the Wom-
ans Relief Corps, spoke at the conclusion oi
faio Cal ,irs,S rLS hrin